Student&#39;s protection school board from emergencies

ABSTRACT

A student protection school board mainly comprises a main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section which constitutes the front surface of the room, with shape of colored dye blackboard, a main fixed frame of rectangular cross section which constitutes the rear surface of the room, mounted on the wall of the classroom, two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces which constitute the side surfaces of the room, and two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces, reinforced with metal plates, which constitute the upper surface of the room.

The invention refers to a student's protection board from emergencies such as gunshots, earthquakes, explosions, fire, etc., which was invented to be used as a protection room and in order to prevent fatal accidents in places where children are hosted like schools, private language schools etc.

The present industrial application relates to a flexible folding student's protection board that can be converted quickly and easily into a shielded protection room against portable weapons and ammunition of any type and caliber and also to a hermitically closed protection space that prevents emergencies such as natural hazards i.e. earthquakes, fires etc., and cases of targeted violence such as explosives and chemical-biological substances.

Unfair attacks on schools aimed at children by organized or individual terrorist groups that aim to provoke the international community and to force difficult situations are a frequent phenomenon. There is also high frequency of unforeseen events such as earthquakes, fires etc. that cause panic to children and adults even in cases that the treatment of these situations has been foreseen.

From February 1996 up to October 2015 there have been over 60 incidents of mass killings in schools in America and around the world, with a very large number of deaths. Since then huge sums of money have been spent by state agencies to take preventative measures and to record internal prevention regulations and treat those emergencies which in the end prove to be insufficient.

The schools should be safe places for teaching and learning, without phenomena of crime and violence. Each occurrence of crime or violence at school not only affects the people involved, but it may disrupt the educational process and affect bystanders, school and the surrounding community. The school safety issues have grown exponentially in recent decades, as events that have occurred in recent years have activated people responsible for the development of more effective systems to protect the safety of students and staff.

The use and application of preventive-safety measures against armed attacks, such as increasing the number of guards, use of bulletproof windows and the installation of armored doors, controlled entry points with metal detectors, the use of CCTV cameras, etc. have been criticized that apart from their failure, they pose a prison environment image and not a learning environment. It has been reported by many school counselors that the physical presence of guards around the school building and the multi-view monitoring systems suggest a fake security environment of doubtless quality and reliability.

Panic rooms or secure rooms have also become a popular trend nowadays in order to provide extremely secure locations inside buildings where the people under threat can subside. However, they constitute permanent structures of high volume and high cost and their construction must be foreseen before the fmal delivery of the building. The US 2014/0259976 A1 describes an alternative method of making a secure shelter which can be installed inside the building, but whose side surfaces and the roof consists of a series of sliding panels. Thus the construction of US 2014/0259976 A1 has the drawback of a non-stable and non-durable construction, providing dubious protection against threats, in contrast to the present invention consisting of single robust surfaces coated with the polymer sealant material.

The potential consequences of an incident with mass casualties in schools can be mitigated by implementing a comprehensive plan of emergency management strategy which will not be limited to preventive measures but will mainly focus on repressive measures. The present invention aims to create a flexible students' protection board that is converted quickly and easily into a shielded protection room against portable weapons and ammunition of any type and caliber and also into a closed protection room that prevents the emergencies such as natural hazards i.e. earthquakes, fires etc., which can be used as the ultimate repressive means with maximum user safety, as well as covering the drawbacks of other systems.

One of the major features of the invention is the creation of a shielded room of suitable dimensions which comprises the necessary mechanisms of motion, connection and fixing so that it is not damaged on complete folding and it maintains its shape; it is enhanced, resistant, reusable.

According to the present invention, the above mentioned objects, and many more which will be better understood hereinafter, are achieved by the protection school board that in full extension is of parallelepiped shape and is formed by the absolute contact of folding robust surfaces, of high hardness steel metal layer (12) which on their inner surface have a special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13) while their edges (24) are coated with polymeric sealant material.

The student protection school board from emergencies:

-   -   i. A main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1)         which constitutes the front surface of the room, with shape         colored of dye blackboard (2), which bears:         -   special drive bearings (3) to facilitate the movement         -   protective thermoplastic elastomer bar (4) for accidents             prevention during the stay of students         -   optionally film light-emitting diodes (5) for signaling of             protection school board     -   ii. A main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) which         constitutes the rear surface of the room, mounted on the wall of         the classroom, which bears internally:         -   at least two screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7)         -   a hybrid propulsion motor (10) and         -   bottles of compressed oxygen (11)     -   iii. Two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) which         constitute the side surfaces of the room.     -   iv. Two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (16) which         constitute the upper surface of the room and bears internally:         -   safety lights (17) with power batteries for backup power             supply and         -   oxygen masks (18)     -   v. At least two hydraulic compensator cylinders (30)     -   vi. An entry/exit door (19) adapted on one of the two         equal-sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) forming the side         surfaces of the room     -   vii. External unit with pushbutton star/stop (21) for setting in         operation     -   viii. Electro pneumatic operation system including the hybrid         propulsion motor (10) and bottles of compressed oxygen (11)     -   ix. Manual operation mechanism with pressure lever (22)     -   x. Sound information system (23)

Specifically, the present invention aims to present the manufacture and method of implementation of a students' protection board from emergencies, in which the following are achieved:

a) preservation of all properties-benefits of a shielded permanent shelter-room providing effective protection even in case of earthquake, fire, chemicals etc. b) fast and totally successful protection of children and staff without leaving unexploited crucial seconds after the occurrence of incidents c) creation of a friendly environment that conveys security and suppresses panic situations in the event of emergencies d) insurance of the necessary residence time in a safe place until the competent authorities arrive.

A students' protection board from emergencies has many advantages, according to the present invention.

Since the present invention relates to a folding construction, its assembly is simple in relation to its surprising results. The construction of small thickness makes the present invention easy to use, because its volume enables the installation and the operation of the invention in any desired site and point. It can be configured in all shapes and dimensions depending on its application and all the requirements to be met. Similarly, the outer surface has the look of a blackboard (2) makes it fully functional and perfectly harmonious in the classroom.

The choice of the material composition of the folding robust surfaces, without being limited to these, produce the best possible result related to the protection against gunshots using the ballistic and non-flammable high hardness steel metal layer (12) and from incidents of fire since the layer of insulating elastomer material (13) does not allow transmission of heat inside.

Also the fact that the present invention relates to a construction consisting of single robust surfaces enhanced with metal plates (14) makes it a room of high resistance and tightness even in cases of earthquakes, which is not achieved by sliding panels and other similar devices.

The desired results and the safe stay in the student's protection board are achieved by a simple construction which provides thermal insulation, sealing and durability even in ordinary chemical effects (inhalation of hazardous substances, chemicals, fumes, etc.), even protecting from biological risks, since it is equipped with oxygen masks (18) while the inner edges (24) of the single robust surfaces are coated with a polymeric sealing material.

Having achieved the best and fastest way of unfolding and redeployment of an apparently simple blackboard (2) into a closed protection room in just a few seconds, the students' protection board, according to the present invention, directly and easily protects the user from gunshots and its health effects as well as death or injury.

Also the design specifications of the students' protection board completely comply with safety rules as it bears a protective thermoplastic elastomer bar (4) in order to avoid accidents during the stay of students. It also bears a film light emitting diodes (5) for signaling the students' protection board in the start of the folding. Finally, the automatic sound information with an alarm notification and recorded instructions complete the measures for additional-maximum safe use.

The fact that the students' protection board is equipped with main and backup power supply system and with a pneumatic operation system, make the system a hybrid power system since it uses more than one power production method to cover the required energy with constant voltage. This will minimize the risk of power failure so that its operation depends at the least bit on the changing of external factors. In case of power supply failure of the above mentioned systems, a manual operation mechanism with pressure lever (22) is installed.

Its ergonomic construction in combination with the discreet presence in the room, create a healthy-friendly environment that does not look like security fort, which favors the psychology of both children who do not feel trapped and monitored at the space of teaching and the psychology of the staff as they are able to act directly and effectively without having to apply the time-consuming and ultimately inadequate precautions against emergency events.

The presented figures illustrate an implementation example of this inventive idea. The manufacture and use of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and with the help of the attached figures, more specifically:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the protection school board in a fully shrinked position. In FIG. 1 is shown the main surfaces which constitute the frame construction, i.e. the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1), which constitutes the front surface of the room, with shape colored dye blackboard (2) and the main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6), which constitutes the rear surface of the room, mounted on the wall of the classroom. It is also illustrated the protective thermoplastic elastomer bar (4) and the film light-emitting diodes (5) for signaling of protection school board. Finally it is shown in detail the high hardness steel metal layer (12) and the special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13).

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the of protection school board during unfolding of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room. FIG. 2 shows in detail the screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7).

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the rear surface of school protection panel during the folding of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room. FIG. 3 shows in detail the connection via devices with pierced flat parts (27) so as to allow free turning motion along the vertical axis and also the hybrid propulsion motor (10) and the bottles of compressed oxygen (11).

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the rear and side surface of protection school board after the folding of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room. In FIG. 4 is shown the special drive bearings (3) of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) and the entrance/exit door (19).

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the of protection school board during folding of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (16) which constitute the upper surface. In FIG. 5 is shown the hydraulic compensator cylinder (30) and various constructional details.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the of protection school board in a fully extended form. In FIG. 6 is shown in detail the union of folding rectangular surfaces (15) and (16) as well as the safety lights (17) with power batteries for backup power supply and the oxygen masks (18).

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the inner surface of the main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) of the protection school board, highlighting the use of oxygen masks (18)

FIG. 8 illustrates a complete exploded view of the deferent sections of the protection school board with the individual construction details.

FIGS. 9,10,11,12 and 13 illustrate an application of protection school board in a classroom, showing all the folding steps. Specifically in FIG. 9 it is shown the protection school board in fully shrinked position and the outside unit with pushbutton start/stop (21) which also bears the sound information system (23). FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate respectively the folding steps of the rectangular surfaces (15) and (16) and the movement of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1). FIG. 12 shows the protection school board in fully extended position, and finally in FIG. 13 it is shown the entrance/exit door (19) and the entry application into it.

The invention is described below with the assistance of one non limited example and with reference to attached drawings.

The protection school board of the present invention is of rectangular cross section and has the configuration of a rectangular parallelepiped room so that it can stand and be extended horizontally easily and quickly in the floor of each classroom. It can be manufactured in different dimensions (length, width and height). Indicatively, it can be manufactured in dimensions (L×W×H)=3.0×1.5×2.0 meters so that the capacity could reach 9.0 cubic meters in order to accommodate twenty-twenty five people.

As shown in FIG. 1, the protection school board of the present invention comprises two main equal vertical surfaces forming the frame construction, i.e. a main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1), which constitutes the front surface of the room, with shape colored of dye blackboard (2), and a main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6), which is the rear surface of the room, mounted on the wall of the classroom. The frame consists of fixed and mobile parts, which are interconnected via the suspension, operation and safety mechanisms and devices. Both fixed and mobile parts may be composed of more than one element from different material. The opposing parallel vertical surfaces have the same dimensions and are composed of a high hardness steel metal layer (12) which on its inner surface has a special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13) in order to prevent heat transfer and maintain stable temperature values.

The main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) that constitutes the rear surface of the room is mounted to the wall of the classroom. It is possible the main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) to be placed inside the wall of the room for space saving and optimal aesthetic result. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, along its inner surface (25), at a suitable height, at least two screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7) are supported by bearings. The linear drive systems commonly use worm screws to convert rotary motion to linear. The most common way of converting rotary motion to linear is the screw drive mechanism for load transfer along its length. The screw shaft thread is a trapezoid, while on the contact position of each drive screw shaft, there are at least two special nuts (8) having the same thread, but internal. The thread of each drive screw shaft (7), from the beginning to the middle of its length is clockwise (32) and then becomes left-hand (33) making special nuts (8) to perform reverse movement between them. Articulated joints (9) are adapted to the specific nuts (8) in order to take place the necessary connections. Also in a suitable point on the frame is mounted and the hybrid propulsion motor (10) of the drive screw shafts (7) and the bottles of compressed oxygen (11) of the electro-pneumatic operation system.

The main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) constitutes the front surface of the room and bears shape colored of dye blackboard (2) in order to fulfill its primary scope within the classroom. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in its lower horizontal surface, special drive bearings (3) are adapted so as to facilitate movement during the folding of the school board, while it bears and a protective thermoplastic elastomer bar (4) to prevent accidents during the stay of students. Optionally, it bears along the horizontal side, a film light-emitting diodes (5) for signaling of protection school board at the start of its folding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room are connected from their one vertical side (26) respectively with the inner of two vertical sides of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1). The connection is made through a device with pierced flat parts (27) in order to allow free turning motion along the vertical axis. The two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) are also composed, as shown in the detail of FIG. 1, of a high hardness steel metal layer (12) which on its inner surface has a special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room, are connected on their other vertical side (28) respectively with the inner of the two vertical sides of the main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) via articulated joints (9) which are adapted to special nuts (8) of the screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7). The movement of the special nuts (8), as shown in the detail of FIG. 2, achieve the folding of the rectangular surfaces (15) by 90° degrees to the vertical axis and the parallel movement of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) forwardly through the drive bearings (3), resulting to the creation of a parallelepiped room with absolute contact of the vertical tangent surfaces, whose edges (24) are coated with a polymer sealant material.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the outer surface of the equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room, an entry/exit door (19) is adapted in order to take place the quick and easy transfer of persons. The door (19) bears a special opening/closing strap (20).

FIGS. 5 and 8 illustrate the internal upper horizontal surfaces (29) of the folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room, which are connected respectively, through device with pierced flat parts (27), to the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (16) which constitute the upper surface of the room, to allow the rotation movement along the horizontal axis. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the movement takes place via at least two hydraulic compensator cylinders (30) which are adapted at suitable points on the tangent surfaces. On inner surfaces of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (16), kits with oxygen masks (18) are suspended, as shown in FIG. 7, in case of chemicals substances presence. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, safety lights (17) with power batteries are installed, for the existence of continuous light and continuous supply in case of power failure.

The two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (16), as shown in the detail of FIG. 1, are also composed of a high hardness steel metal layer (12) which on its inner surface has a special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13). Also, as shown in FIG. 6, their edges (24) are coated with polymeric sealant material and are reinforced with metal plates (14) and also that appropriate safety bolts (31) have been placed for enhancing their resistance.

The protection school board when is not used, due to its property to be folded easily and quickly, is firmly mounted (non-extended form) on the wall of the classroom, with the shape colored of dye blackboard (2) in order to fulfill its main scope, as shown in FIG. 9.

The process of folding and horizontally extending of the school board to a rectangular room of parallelepiped shape, starts by pushing the start/stop button of the external unit (21) (FIG. 9) for setting in operation the hybrid propulsion motor (10) which is connected with the drive screw shafts (7). Alternatively the protection school board is equipped with backup power supply system and pneumatic operation system, in case of interruption of supply. In case of power supply failure of the above mentioned systems, there is installed a manual operation mechanism with a pressure lever (22).

By pressing the external unit with the pushbutton start/stop (21) at the same time starts the automated sound information system with alarm notification and the recorded instructions, and also the signaling of the school board with the film light-emitting diodes (5).

Afterwards, takes place the folding of the surfaces in order to form the room. The executed movements are the following:

-   -   As shown in FIG. 10, while the drive screw shafts (7) rotate,         the special nuts (8) executing reverse movement between them,         achieve the folding of the rectangular surfaces (15) which form         the side surfaces of the room by 90° degrees to the vertical         axis as well as the parallel forward movement of main mobile         outer frame of rectangular cross section (1), through drive         bearings (3), resulting in the formation of a parallelepiped         room without roof, with absolute contact of vertically tangent         surfaces.     -   Then, as illustrated in FIG. 11 when folding of the rectangular         surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room is         completed, at least two hydraulic compensator cylinders (30) are         automatically actuated resulting in the full extension of the         folding rectangular surfaces (16) by turning 90° degrees to the         horizontal axis.     -   Result of the above mentioned movement, as shown in FIG. 12, is         the creation of the rectangular cross section room,         parallelepiped shaped, with one single surface that constitutes         the roof.     -   Since the protection school board is fully folded with minimum         speed time, students and staff enter through the         door/s/entry/exit (19), securing the safety bolts (31) (FIG.         13). Alongside safety lights are activated, and oxygen masks         (18) are available in case of emergency.     -   When the danger is passed, evacuation process takes place and         through the reverse operation, takes place its shrinking to a         typical school board.

The student's protection school board from emergencies, apart from being placed in places that host children such as schools, language schools, etc., can also be used in all areas where there is human activity, such as convention centers, shopping centers, hospitals, sports centers, hotels, tourist and archaeological sites etc. 

1. Student's protection school board from emergencies which extends horizontally to a rectangular cross section room, of parallelepiped shape, characterized by the fact that it comprises mainly single robust surfaces of high hardness steel metal layer (12) which on their inner surface have a special compact layer of insulating elastomer material (13) while their edges (24) are coated with polymeric sealant material and that it consists of: i. A main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) which constitutes the front surface of the room, with shape colored of dye blackboard (2), which bears: special drive bearings (3) to facilitate the movement protective thermoplastic elastomer bar (4) for accidents prevention during the stay of students optionally film light-emitting diodes (5) for signaling of protection school board ii. A main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) which constitutes the rear surface of the room, mounted on the wall of the classroom, which bears internally: at least two screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7) a hybrid propulsion motor (10) and bottles of compressed oxygen (11) iii. Two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room. iv. Two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (16) which constitute the upper surface of the room and bear internally: safety lights (17) with power batteries for backup power supply and oxygen masks (18) v. At least two hydraulic compensator cylinders (30) vi. An entry/exit door (19) adapted on one of the two equal-sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) forming the side surfaces of the room vii. External unit with pushbutton star/stop (21) for setting in operation viii. Electro pneumatic operation system including the hybrid propulsion motor (10) and bottles of compressed oxygen (11) ix. Manual operation mechanism with pressure lever (22) x. Sound information system (23)
 2. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) which constitutes the rear surface of the room, bears at least two screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7) where the thread of each screw shaft is trapezoidal, whereas on the contact position of each screw shaft are at least two special nuts (8) having the same thread, but internal.
 3. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the thread of each drive screw shaft (7), from the beginning to the middle of its length is clockwise (32) and then is becoming left-hand (33), making special nuts (8) to perform reverse movement between them by the operation startup of screw shaft linear drive mechanism (7).
 4. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room are connected from their one vertical side (26) respectively with the inner of the two vertical sides of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) via device with pierced flat parts (27) in order to allow turning motion along the vertical axis and from their other vertical side (28) respectively with the inner of the two vertical sides of main fixed frame of rectangular cross section (6) via articulated joints (9) adapted to special nuts (8) of screw shaft linear drive mechanisms (7).
 5. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the movement of special nuts (8) achieves the folding of the rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room by 90° degrees to the vertical axis and the parallel movement of the main mobile outer frame of rectangular cross section (1) forwardly through the drive bearings (3).
 6. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the two equally sized rectangular folding surfaces (16) which constitute the upper surface of the room, are firmly connected respectively to the internal upper horizontal surfaces (29) of the folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room, through a device with pierced flat parts (27) in order to allow turning motion along the horizontal axis.
 7. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that by the full extension of the folding rectangular surfaces (15) which constitute the side surfaces of the room, at least two hydraulic compensator cylinders (30) are automatically actuated, resulting in the full extension of the folding rectangular surfaces (16) to rotation of 90° degrees along the horizontal axis thus creating a single surface that constitutes the roof of the room.
 8. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the edges (24) of the two equally sized folding rectangular surfaces (16) which constitute the upper surface of the room, are reinforced with metal plates (14) and also that appropriate safety bolts (31) have been placed to increase resistance of forming single surface.
 9. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the board is a hybrid power system since it is equipped with main and backup electro pneumatic operation system including the hybrid propulsion motor (10), the bottles of compressed oxygen (11) and safety lights (17) with power batteries, so as to cover the required operation power with constant voltage, without being dependent the operation at a least bit from the changing of external factors.
 10. Student protection school board from emergencies according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that in case of failure of power supply from the electro pneumatic operation system, a manual operation mechanism with pressure lever (22), is installed. 